Traumatic brain injury risk while parachuting: Comparison of the personnel armor system for ground troops helmet and the advanced combat helmet

Military paratroopers are inherently at risk for a variety of injuries when they jump, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). U.S. Army paratroopers rely on their ballistic helmets for protection against TBIs when jumping. Currently, two different helmets are available to Army paratroopers, that is, the personnel armor system for ground troops helmet and the advanced combat helmet. This study compared the incidence of self-reported, jump-related TBIs in a small sample of paratroopers (N = 585) using each type of helmet. Data were obtained from surveys of soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The overall relative risk of sustaining a TBI while jumping was 2.3 times (95% confidence interval, 1.3-4.3) higher for personnel armor system for ground troops helmet users. Most of the increase in risk was accounted for by the most-minor TBIs (American Academy of Neurology grade 1 or 2 concussion).